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, Letters Patent No. 79,462, dated June 30, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN 11038.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY OONQERNp I Be it known that I, J. L. FOUNTAIN, New Milford, in the county of Winnebago, and'State (yr-lumen, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garden-Hoes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and complete description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which i i 1 Figure 1 is a side view of the hoe,

Figure 2 a front view.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several views. I

The nature of this invention consists in providing the blade of the'h'oe with a sharp-edged shank, so that the dirt will not collect on and about the same, but will drop off, and thus leave the hoe at all times free from dirt,

In thedrawing, fig. 2, A represents the blade of the hoe, whi,ch is or may be of the ordinary shape and size. 13 is the shank, which is curved forward and upwardabove the hoe, the inner side of which is brought. to a sharp edge, C, fig. 2. The said edge extends from. the upper edge of the hoe, along theunder side of the neckof the shank, back to its intersection with the handle.

By thus giving to the shank this sharp cutting-edge, the dirt is unableto lodge in and about t of.

the neck, as the sides, by their fiat surfaces and angular direction, will soon become smooth and bright by the abrasion of the dirt upon them, thereby aifording no chance for theadhesion and lodgment of theearth.

In the ordinary hoe, the neck of theshank is rounded, thereby presenting a large surface to the dirt, which;

as it comes in contact, with the same, is. notodivided and thrown readily oil', but accumulates thereon, and more especially if the earth is damp, so that the hoe becomes heavy to handle unless it is frequently cleaned ofi', all of which is avoided by having the shank of thenoe madewith a sharp cutting-edge, in the manner as above said.

What I claim as myimprovement, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, isl. Forming the curved shank B, on its inner side or curve, V-shaped or sharp-edged, as and for the purpose set forth. i

2.. The forward-projecting curved shank B,having an acute angle on its inner side C, in combination with the blade, substantially as and for "the purpose specified. i

i J. L. FOUNTAIN.

Witnesses:

G. A. Dunwnnn, L. P. FOUNTAIN. 

